As a three-time Grade 1 winner, Vineyard Haven was sure to be a short-priced favorite in the $75,000 James Marvin Stakes at Saratoga on Friday, and the Florida-bred colt didn’t disappoint the wagering public, cruising to a 1 ¾-length victory.
Vineyard Haven, making his first start since November, set the pace in the seven-furlong race while being pressured by Flat Bold. He covered the first quarter-mile in 22.41 seconds and the half in 45.03 seconds, with jockey Alan Garcia keeping a firm hold on him even while being challenged by Flat Bold.
Vineyard Haven then shook free turning for home, getting to the top of the stretch with a three-length advantage as Flat Bold tired to finish sixth in the field of nine 3-year-olds and up. Garcia took several peaks behind him down the stretch, and when he saw that Vineyard Haven wasn’t being seriously challenged, he allowed the horse to cruise through the final furlong. Vineyard Haven’s final time on the sloppy track was 1:22.30.
“I wasn’t worried that the other horse (Flat Bold) stayed with us,” Garcia said. “I was so confident with my horse. I was in hand with him throughout. When I asked him to go a little bit, he took off.”
Vineyard Haven paid $3.30, $2.70 and $2.10. Florida-bred Half Metal Jacket paid $4.70 and $3.40 after rallying to finish 2 ½ lengths clear of You and I Forever, who returned $4.40 to show.
Vineyard Haven, a son of Lido Palace, was bred and initially raced by trainer Lynne Scace of Double S Farm in Ocala. Now owned by Godolphin Stable and trained by Saeed bin Suroor, the horse has won five of his nine starts for $746,500. He earned Grade 1 victories in the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga and the Champagne Stakes at Belmont as a 2-year-old in 2008 and in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park last year.
Vineyard Haven also crossed the finish line first in the King’s Bishop Stakes (G1) at Saratoga last year but was disqualified and placed second after interfering with Capt. Candyman Can. He concluded his 2009 campaign in November by finishing a close-up third behind Kodiak Kowboy in the Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct.
Assistant trainer Rick Mettee said Vineyard Haven likely will make his next start in the seven-furlong Forego (G1) at Saratoga on Sept. 4.
“He came out of it well,” Mettee said of Friday’s race. “(Garcia) went pretty easy on him. He seems to handle every kind of track well. His next race will likely be the Forego, but we have thought about stretching him out at some point.”
Half Metal Jacket, a son of Yes It’s True bred at John J. Brunetti’s Red Oak Farm in Ocala, has won eight of his 27 starts for $266,670. The 5-year-old gelding is trained by Sydney Dutrow for Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables.
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